HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Cyprus Ali Yousef Abdulrahman Al Mulla underlined that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani’s visit to the Republic of Cyprus gives a significant boost to the relations between the two countries, noting the great development the bilateral relations have seen recently.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency , HE the Ambassador said that HE President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides paid his first official visit to Qatar in November 2023 in light of the keenness on promoting the relations to an advanced level. The first round of political consultations was convened in Cyprus in January with the aim of bolstering friendship ties between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Cyprus, and encouraging constant cooperation between the two sides.
Key topics that will be discussed during the visit will revolve around the bilateral relations and ways to enhance them, and the cooperation in the fields of energy, economy and investment, His Excellency
indicated.
HE Ambassador Ali Yousef Abdulrahman Al Mulla highlighted many cooperation agreements signed between Qatar and Cyprus in various fields, which contributed to the opening of embassies of the two countries, as well as the inauguration of the Qatari embassy’s new building in Nicosia, and naming the street where the Qatari embassy is located the “Qatar Street” and the adjacent park the “Doha Park”.
His Excellency stressed the joint aspiration of the State of Qatar and the Republic of Cyprus to develop bilateral relations at all levels to serve the common goals and interests of the two friendly countries. He noted that the sectors of energy, investment, transportation, tourism and higher education are among the most important areas of cooperation of priority to both countries. These areas would contribute to strengthening the bilateral relations at the present and in the future at the political, economic and cultural levels.
The Republic of Cyprus is a promising island characterized by its strategic
location between Asia and Europe, in addition to its membership in the European Union, making it an investment destination for capital in general, especially in the fields of tourism, services and energy, HE the Ambassador indicated.
In this context, the relations between the two countries have seen a remarkable development recently in the fields of trade, investment and tourism with regard to the volume of trade exchange which recorded a 26.67 percent increase, according to the latest statistics for the year 2022, he added.
In implementation of HH the Amir’s directives during the HE the Cypriot President’s visit to Doha last year regarding the formation of a Qatari committee consisting of various departments and institutions to explore investment opportunities in the Republic of Cyprus with the aim of strengthening economic relations in the future, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Nicosia is working with all concerned parties to achieve this goal, and to create promising investment opportunities that c
ontribute to strengthening relations between the two countries, HE the Ambassador said.
On the other hand, HE the Ambassador underlined that the governments of the two countries are making tremendous efforts to contribute to the international endeavors to end the war in Gaza. He explained that the State of Qatar, along with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America, plays a mediating role between the Hamas movement and the Israeli entity to stop the war; while the government of Cyprus, through the Safe Sea Corridor Initiative to transfer humanitarian aid from Cyprus to Gaza, contributes to alleviating the suffering of the people of Gaza Strip.
In recent years, the State of Qatar has carried out a mediating role in many regional and international files, making tireless diplomatic and political efforts at various levels to mediate between factions, entities and countries, at the request of the concerned parties and without interfering in the internal affairs of countries, aiming to bring vie
wpoints closer together, and finding sustainable solutions to conflicts and disagreements, HE the Ambassador pointed out.
Good offices, mediation, and settlement of disputes by peaceful means consistent with the provisions of international law are a strategic choice and a fundamental pillar of the foreign policy of the State of Qatar, through which it aims to contribute to the consolidation of international peace and security – one of the most important main principles of the United Nations Charter, as well as promoting the status of Qatar and preserving interests and its extended relations and deep partnerships with the United Nations and the entire international community, His Excellency added.
He noted the State of Qatar’s emphasis on the importance of the Security Council carrying out its role through initiatives, mediation and preventive diplomacy, which the international community should establish, since many conflicts and disputes can only be resolved through multilateral efforts; adding that the gov
ernment of the State of Qatar always shows readiness to assume its role in contributing to bringing the conflicting parties closer together and settling disputes through peaceful means, regionally and internationally, when asked to do so.
In conclusion, HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Cyprus Ali Yousef Abdulrahman Al Mulla said that a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed during HH the Amir’s visit to Cyprus, contributing to boosting and developing the bilateral cooperation across all areas and levels.
Source: Qatar News Agency